A Walk in the Woods

Bill Bryson’s 1998 literary work takes its readers’ imagination, as the title suggests, to â€Å"A Walk in the Woods.†The author returning back to the United States after living for 20 years outside the country decided to the reconnect with his home landscape and hikes the Appalachian Trail. In Bill Bryson’s account of the Appalachian Trail, both historical and environmental information is received by the readers. More specifically the environmental crisis and its causes are dealt in this Bryson’s book. For some, environmental issues are quite uninteresting and dull.However, readers of this book are still compelled to continuously read it because of its humor and thought-provoking exploration of the wild. Moreover, Bill Bryson’s style and themes informs and teaches several environmental issues and concerns to its readers while entertaining them. Though, by scanning the history and events in other areas, it can be said that Bill Bryson’ s accounted environmental problems in his book does not occur solely in the Appalachian Trail, rather it is a world-wide problem.Bill Bryson accounts that the Appalachian Trail is 2200 miles, and I think he is telling the truth. Based on what I have learned (or know) about, the Appalachian Trail is a 2,147-mile-long footpath from Georgia to Maine, which follows the ridgetops of the fourteen states through which it passes.Although other people had put forth similar ideas, Benton MacKaye’s article â€Å"An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning,† is usually looked upon as having presented the impetus for the Appalachian Trail.A regional planner, MacKaye saw in the post-World War I era an America that was becoming hastily urbanized, machine-driven and far detached from the positive reinvigorating aspects of the natural world. In addition to endowing with obvious recreational opportunities, the trail he imagined or visualized would be a linking line between a se ries of everlasting self-sustaining camps in wherein cooperation would replace antagonism, trust replaces suspicion, and emulation replaces competition.Encouraged and supported by relatives, friends, and like-minded acquaintances, MacKaye set about disseminating the idea of an Appalachian Trail to anyone who would listen, as well as officials of the National Park and National Forest Services.Particularly interested to the trail concept were members and officers of previously existing trail organizations such as the Green Mountain Club of Vermont, the New England Trail Conference, and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Not overlooking the advertising power of the press, MacKaye also solicited the help of newspaper reporters and columnists throughout the Northeast.The idea struck a chord form in October 1923, just two years after publication of his article, the first few miles of trail to be built particularly as a part of the Appalachian Trail were opened to the public in the area of Har riman and Bear Mountain State Parks in New York by the then recently formed New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.Acting upon a request by MacKaye and others, the Federal Societies on Planning and Parks met in Washington, D.C, in March 1925, for the intention of furthering action on the Appalachian Trail.There, an organization establishing the Appalachian Trail Conference (now known as Appalachian Trail Conservancy, committed to the protection and management of the trail) was adopted, and William A. Welch, of New York’s Palisades Interstate Park Commission, was named its chairman. Throughout the meeting, it was determined that the Appalachian Trail would run approximately 1,700 miles (which is 500 miles less than Bill Bryson’s measurement or the length of Appalachian Trail today) from Mount Washington in New Hampshire to Cohutta Mountain in northwestern Georgia.A northern extension was to stretch to Mount Katahdin in Maine while a southern addition would reach all of th e way to Birmingham Alabama. Among various branch routes that were also proposed, one was to follow the Long Trail in Vermont, another would extend into the Catskills, and another was to run along the Tennessee River to Kentucky.

Analysis of Sociologically Relevant Film: Forrest Gump Essay

â€Å"The world will never be the same once you’ve seen it through the eyes of†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Forrest Gump: a film chronicling the life of a mentally challenged man present during three of the most distinctive and dynamic decades in American history. While on the surface lies a heartwarming and inspirational story, the underlying narrative tends to explore progression of American society while depoliticizing history. Throughout the film Forrest is directly involved in major events of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, yet he never shows any initiative of his own. What is the filmmaker trying to insinuate? Sociological analysis An understanding of Forrest’s background in an important and characterizing element in the film. Disadvantaged by a terrible spine condition and a low IQ, Forrest struggles through childhood in small-minded Greenbow, Alabama. Due to his mental disabilities, Forrest becomes the victim of academic discrimination, which his mother fights desperately to resolve. â€Å"He might be a bit on the slow side, but my boy Forrest is going to get the same opportunities as everyone else,† she stated to the principal of Greenbow County Central School. â€Å"He’s not going to some special school to learn to how to re-tread tires.† (Gump 1995) Forrest’s mother was determined. Taking advantage of this, the principal coerced Forrest’s mother into trading a sexual favor for enrollment in school. In addition to these unsettling events, Forrest finds himself tormented and isolated by neighborhood children and townspeople who seem incapable of treating him with any thing but reproach and disdain. Forrest was also an active part of many important events, including protests lead by George Wallace against desegregation, the Vietnam War, the Ping Pong Diplomacy period, anti-war activism lead by Abbie Hoffman, Black Panther Party meetings, and the Watergate scandal. It would be reasonable to say that being part of such important events and would make him vulnerable to the social forces of the times, yet his lack of critical thought as a result of low intelligence seemed to indicate the complete opposite– he remained wholly oblivious and ignorant of their significance. During George Wallace’s â€Å"Stand in the Schoolhouse Door† protest, Forrest stands curiously in the background, more interested in his surroundings rather than the actual protest. During the Vietnam War, Forrest never questions the morality or the agenda of the U.S. government, and receives the Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts. His entire experience during the Vietnam War can be summed up into one conversation between him and the Drill Sergeant: â€Å"Gump! What’s your sole purpose in this Army?† â€Å"To do whatever you tell me, Drill Sergeant!† (Gump 1995) Still, the most dismaying portion of impassive responses glorified in this film can be contributed to Forrest’s careless involvement in the anti-Vietnam War rally lead by Abbie Hoffman. He was entirely clueless as to the purpose of the anti-war movements. His view of Abbie Hoffman’s role? â€Å"There was this man, giving a little talk†¦ And every time he said th e â€Å"F† word, people, for some reason, well, they’d cheer.† Though the focus of the film is directed towards Forrest Gump, the effects of social forces are most often expressed and implied through Jenny Curran. Forrest’s generally unobservant nature contrasts harshly with Jenny’s forthright and independent character. Without Jenny, we would have a collectively unrealistic and uncertain portrayal of many occurrences that contributed to the structure of today’s society. Unlike Forrest, Jenny was consciously and intentionally involved in the counterculture movements of the 60’s, as she is seen trailing the countryside with fellow â€Å"hippies,† participating in anti-war movements, and secretly involving herself in Black Panther Party meetings. Before Jenny sets off on what turns out to be downward spiral towards debasement, she speaks to Forrest of her motives. â€Å"†¦I want to reach people on a personal level. I want to be able to say things, just one-to-one.† (Gump 1995) However, Jenny’s plans for a better society are brought to a staggering halt when Jenny develops a fatal disease stemming from precarious drug use. Conclusion Although Tom Hanks (Star in Forrest Gump) affirms that the film was â€Å"non-political and thus non-judgmental,† the previous examples show implications otherwise. Though the film does take a stand against disability discrimination by shedding some light on the difficulties that accompany being handicap during a callous time in American history, it’s motives were generally ambiguous and unclear. Based on the filmmakers unattractive outlook on counterculturalism, his lack of discretion when touching on issues like desegregation and independence, as well as his insensitive approach to the deaths of activists, we can arrive at the following conclusion: the harrowing experiences exposed in this film can be easily discarded as something warranted only by devoted individuals who attempt to foster humanity.

Realism Paper

Brandon Jackson There are many differences between realism and theatricalism. Realism consists of any type of play that is based off of real life events. And theatricalism is the complete opposite. It doesn’t consist of any real life events and they aren’t supposed to do such. Realism plays don’t have to have any sort of originality but they are normally written directly from real life events. When play writers are writing a realistic play they tend to write the play as common and close to everyday speech and actions of humans. Realistic plays almost always recall on flashbacks, which consist of scenes that occurred in the characters past.In realistic plays actors and actresses do not even look directly at the audience, many of times in these plays actors do not even acknowledge the audience’s presence in order to give it that realistic feel. Take the play Joe Turners come and gone for example the characters sway away from keeping in contact with the crowd and they make sure not to look at the audience for any reason. If I where to write a play on the realism of a high school students way of speaking, I would be sure to use a lot of slang in my speech to make it as realistic as possible.As said before the play Joe Turners come and gone is a great example of realism. The play shows the struggles of an African American family and consists of real live events like slavery and poverty. The characters are all working class who are barely making a living. Another realistic play, which consists of realistic event, is The Piano Lesson. Just like Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, the characters in The Piano Lesson are all working class African Americans working hard just to survive.The main character Boy Wille is so desperate for money he decides he wants to trade a piano that has been in the family for several years in order to acquire land for crop growing. But the play does use some theatricalism. Towards the end of the play they make a g host a ghost which many could agree isnt exactly realism. But even within the play they still seem to make the story very believable with a realistic. The same with The Last Five Years. This play and or musical are very realistic and utilize many different scenes of the everyday life of a married couple in Ohio.Unlike the Play Joe Turners come and gone, Angles in America is completely un realistic and is clearly imaginary. There are many aspects of Thearicalism found in this play. Nothing in this play is predictable and throughout the play the audience can be found both confused and some amazed by its creativity. Absurdism is another aspect of theatricalsim. Absurdism is the philosophical thought of people are meaningless and have no job or role in life. Many Fictional plays normally consist of some sort theatricalism and many Absurdism. Expersionalism is the thought of painting a picture with words and or in the form of a play.This can be seen in almost any play because theatre is a form or art and the main objective of any play is to paint a picture. But in any Thearticalism play the Every aspect of these plays are make believe, and they normally don’t consist of a true plot and or seem realistic. The use of Imagery and exaggeration and distortion can be found in just about any theatrical play. http://www. musicomh. com/theatre/last-five-years_0706. htm http://www. sparknotes. com/drama/piano/summary. html http://dictionary. reference. com/browse/theatricalism NOTES

ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND DEVELOPMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND DEVELOPMENT - Essay Example Each theory has three important aspect of communication i.e. sender, receiver and message. According to Roberts (2007) â€Å"Change is a multifaceted phenomenon, yet regardless of the paradigm adopted, there is agreement among all writers about change: it is hard, and generally more complex than anyone first anticipates.† Managing change is directing resources to the direction of goals. It involves all the concerned people from the organisation. It is a calculative and structured process of dealing with known changes. Change management is the process requires proper communication and coordination with all the related departments. There are various issues involved in change management process. Change management is always a planned approach of an organisation. Change management process will be successful when there is maximum involvement of the collective effort of the people. The risk of failure of implementation is identified and strategy is developed to deal with the same. The human aspect of change is the primary aspect of the change management in the organisation. This is depended on the industrial psychology. There are various angles to the process like change management. The process should be multi-disciplinary. It should touch all the aspects of the organisation with a focus on the fundamental of the human resource management issues. The new procedures, policies and change in the organisation processes, process and strategic procedures have various risk of the resistance. People when work together form groups. These groups can be formal and informal. Groups have certain norms. The members of a group are likeminded in various issues and approaches. They have commitment for each other. The group communicate through some language to each other. The language becomes the basic tool of keeping the information regarding the norms and expectations of the

Summary on Trap Doors and Trojan Horses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Summary on Trap Doors and Trojan Horses - Essay Example Fraud can involve as little as $1 to millions of dollars depending on the players involved, as characterized by most fraud activities involving large corporations like banks and investment firms. Trap Doors and Trojan Horses is a book authored by Larry Crumbley, Lawrence Murphy Smith and Laura Davis DeLaune that details the intricacies of fraud involving large corporations and firms. The book is written as a novel that portrays what is regarded as mundane auditing or accounting process in an extremely creative and interesting manner that captures the reader’s attention. The technique used to write the book helps shed light onto the inner workings of high level fraud in the corporate world, and the players involved. This paper seeks to provide a summary of the book by highlighting the key concepts and components addressed by the book. Fraud in the accounting world is best investigated and found out by accountants who are professionally trained and certified with what is referre d to as a certified public accountant (CPA) accreditation. According to Crumbley, Smith and DeLaune (7), CPAs are able to carry out what is referred to as an audit of firm’s annual or quarterly financial statements that serve to provide an opinion of the fairness of the statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The accounting profession is guided by a strict code of conduct and ethics that should be adhered to continuously in order to maintain the integrity of their work and that of their clients. This is because auditors play a critical and vital role that requires them to be vigilant and objective in ensuring that a company’s shareholders’ interests are protected. Auditors also function to ensure that corporate and governance management act within their mandated responsibilities and duties to ensure that a firm’s daily operations are verified (Crumbley, Smith and DeLaune 8). Some of the world renowned accounting and auditing firms include KPMG, PricewaterCoopers, Deloitte and E & Y (8). In an organization, fraudulent behavior can be discerned through the observation of deviant or peculiar habits especially those that are related with money and transactions. Fraudulent employees and clients can easily be detected by observing their spending behaviors or tendencies, and looking for out of the way spending habits. According to Crumbley, Smith and DeLaune (12), an employee in one division of Coca Cola spent a considerable amount of money to buy his wife a bass boat. The wife cashed a check which she very well knew that her husband could not afford to have such an amount of money. The woman confessed that her husband made his work computer play songs that it should not been playing. This led to the suspicion of fraudulent behavior in the division involving this particular employee. This called for a forensic audit on the division’s financial statements and movement of dollar amounts within an d without the division. Overspending or under-spending monies are other ways of detecting suspicious behaviors of fraud perpetrators. This is so in the sense that if an individual deviates from their normal spending habits, it is usually a sign inconsistent and suspect financial behavior. Observation of these suspect financial behaviors can lead fraud investigators to establish a precedent that warrants them to launch

Financial Results of Google Inc., Apple, and Yahoo Essay

Financial Results of Google Inc., Apple, and Yahoo - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Google Inc. revealed that in the third quarter of 2014 it generated revenues amounting to $16.5 billion. The site’s revenues were $11.2 billion, representing 68% of all the revenues. The company’s partner sites made $3.4 billion. Other revenues amounted to $1.84 billion in the last quarter of 2014. Google shares are currently valued at $528.34/ share (Google, 2014). Yahoo had a good third quarter of the year despite analysts’ projections. Revenues generated by the company amounted to $1.094 billion ex-TAC while the GAAP revenues were $1.14 billion in the same period. Mobile revenues alone were more than $200 million. Earning for each undiluted share was $0.52 per share. Currently, the market price of Yahoo shares is $49.94. The researcher’s predictions of the stock prices for the three companies may have been farfetched in the short run, however, in the long run, the prices seem plausible as the share prices are slightly below o r above the actual prices. The researcher’s projected value of Apple shares was $110; this was an inflated value compared to $103.30/share that the company closed the quarter with. This is also the case with the other two companies. The researcher’s projections for Yahoo and Google were $51 and $590 respectively. However, the two companies fell short of these projected values and instead posted $39.27 and $577.33 respectively, as of September 2014. If the author’s predictions were to be projected to two or three quarters, then they would be spot on for at least two companies. Take for example the share prices of Apple and Yahoo in this quarter ending December. Apple shares are retailing at $111.62/share while Yahoo shares are valued at $49.94. It is evident that Apple shares eclipsed my predictions by $1.62 dollars. Yahoo shares, on the other hand, did not meet the bar the author set and fell short by less than $2. However, this is not the case with Google Inc. The company’s market share value has unexpectedly dipped far below the author’s expectations.

Compare Samsung and McDonald's Job design and how Samsung can further Essay

Compare Samsung and McDonald's Job design and how Samsung can further enrich its workers - Essay Example The corporation is incapable of meeting the need of the entire task or ensuring they are assigned the right task. Consequently, this leads to the job affecting the staff negatively (Williams, Hall & Champion, 2011, 48). The job can be seen to be rather monotonous, repetitive and boring and there is no room for employee’s skills to grow. The employees do not get any kind of challenges career wise (Parker & Wall, 1998, 34). On the other hand, Samsung is a large electronic corporation which is established on a global level. The job design is a bit more sophisticated as compared to McDonalds given the technical nature of its operations. At Samsung, the staffs work in different departments depending on one’s specialty (Electric Company & Soscher, 1990, 26). These include public relations, program designers, sales engineers, field test engineers and others. There are managers who handle each department and are responsible for their performance. In addition, there is also an overall general manager who sees to the running of everything in the corporation (Stones, 1989, 72). The employees get on job training that helps them improve on their skills and ascertain that they are able to execute their duties to the best of their ability. In addition, when employees have the right skills to perform their tasks they are likely to be more satisfied (Kusluvan, 2003, 16). Samsung can further enrich its workers by offering training on other skills or areas of expertise. This will help to broaden their scope of knowledge and skills, and consequently ensure employees stay happy at the organization (Reilly & Williams, 2012, 56). General Electric Company, & Sorcher, M. 1990. Achieving Productive Motivation Through Job Design; A Research Program Being Carried Out By Behavioral Research Service In Collaboration With Manufacturing Operations

Vision statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Vision statement - Essay Example I will advance my knowledge and skills in human resource management and use that information in offering solution involving employees in the company I will be working with (Alexander, 2007). I will build rapport with other employees and my senior in the company in order to ensure smooth running of the activities not only in my department, but in all other departments. I will devote all my energy towards my work by working six days a week to maximize my contribution to the company and at the same time make more money. I believe in work commitment and I will dedicate my time to work and spare some of my resources to help others who may need my assistance in one or another (Norton, 2013). In conclusion, I will use all resources available for me in order to get an opportunity to as senior human resource personnel in a competent organization where I will be able to earn money and take care of my family and

Civil Disobedience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Civil Disobedience - Essay Example The philosophy behind civil disobedience goes back to classical and biblical sources. Perhaps its most influential exposition can be found in Henry David Thoreau's On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (1849), in which he claims that the individual, who grants the state its power in the first place, must follow the dictates of conscience in opposing unjust laws. (Carton 1998) Thoreau's work had an enormous impact on Mohandas Gandhi and the techniques that he employed first to gain Indian rights in South Africa and later to win independence for India. Gandhi developed the notion of satyagraha [Sanskrit: holding to truth], acts of civil disobedience marked by Indian tradition and his own high moral standards and sense of self-discipline. Attracting a huge number of followers from the Indian public, Gandhi was able to use the technique as an effective political tool and play a key role in bringing about the British decision to end colonial rule of his homeland. His was one of the few relati vely unqualified successes in the history of civil disobedience. Civil disobedience in the United States traditionally has been associated with those on the left of the political spectrum, as were most participants in the anti-Vietnam War movement, but toward the end of the 20th century the strategy also began to be employed by those on the right, for example, by those involved in confron

Harley-Davidsons strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Harley-Davidsons strategy - Essay Example This paper analyses the strategies which helped this company to establish strong reputation in international market. â€Å"Our vision is to fulfil dreams by providing extraordinary motorcycles and customer experiences, and by fuelling the passion for freedom in our customers† (Harley-Davidson India). In other words, Harley-Davidson is capable of delivering more than its customers’ expectations. While most of the companies promise more and deliver less, Harley-Davidson promises less and delivers more. This strategy helps the company to enhance its corporate image immensely. Harley-Davidson is considering its customers as the most important elements in its business. Customers are getting high quality services before and the after the purchase of Harley-Davidson motor bikes. The company knows very well that the existing customers are as important as the new customers. Harley-Davidson’s mission statement says that; â€Å"we ride with our customers and apply this deep connection in every market we serve to create superior value for all of our stakeholders† (HD Values). Harley-Davidson Company is providing individualized services to the customers. In other words, customers of Harley-Davidson have the luxury to get their motorbike after the customization process. The company is ready to do a lot of customization on its bike based on the demands of the individual customers. No other motorcycle manufactures are ready to do so. This strategy is helping the company to satisfy the customer needs in a better manner. Harley-Davidson is keen in improving company’s reputation with the help of the observance of some of the key values. Some of the core values, followed in the company’s dealings are; tell the truth, be fair, keep the promises, respect the individual and encourage the intellectual curiosity (HD Values). Unlike many other companies, Harley-Davidson is keen in telling the truth to all its customers

Challenges Faced by Fisrt Year Students Essay Example for Free

Challenges Faced by Fisrt Year Students Essay You are expected to submit the pre-writing stage before final submission of the essay The pre-writing stage should be a clear outline of how you are going to write your final essay and an annotated bibliography of not less than five sources.. The purpose of the assignment is to; 1. help you develop the ability to research, reflect on and write an academic essay 2. develop the ability to integrate sources ( i.e. direct quotes, paraphrases and summaries) in your work to demonstrate your perspective on the assignment topic 3. The paper should be written in an academic writing format and should be word processed, font Roman Times or calibri, size 12, line spacing 1.5 and not more than one and a half pages long. 4. The paper should be well researched and thought-provoking. All sources from which your information was obtained should be properly cited using the APA style, and a reference list written at the end of the paper. 5. The reference list should be in a separate page Choose any of the following topics and write an academic essay. 1. Is the law that prohibits the use of cellular phones while driving in Botswana fair? 2. Why is the media important in society? 3. To what extent does the mass media (TV, radio and newspapers) influence an individual’s personality? 4. Damage of the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements in the standard of living. Discuss 5. 6. 7. 8. What are the challenges faced by students at university level that may lead to poor performance. Discuss the different ways through which poverty can be eradicated What is culture? Discuss the different elements of culture. Exams often do little more than measure a person’s ability to take exams so exams should be abolished in favour of another form of assessment 9. Evaluate the importance of a counseling centre in a university 10. What is the difference between sex and gender? What are gender roles? Deadline for pre-writing stage: 03 March Due date: 08 March

Improving Math and Science Scores in Middle School Essay Example for Free

Improving Math and Science Scores in Middle School Essay Math and Science are two subjects which most students at any level approach with trepidation and intense dislike, however, both subjects are integral to cognitive thinking. Not only will these subjects provide skills that will help students think more clearly, but students will be academically successful throughout their school career, enjoy wider career choices and earn more money after graduation. Therefore, establishing a strong foundation in these subjects is integral to future academic and career success. However, studying these subjects in middle school is even more difficult. Studies have shown that the transition for a student from elementary school to middle school is academically and psychologically difficult. According to Maurice Elias in an article entitled, â€Å"Middle School Transition: It’s Harder Than You Think†, many former elementary school students are not well prepared for the demands of middle school. They need explicit instruction, coaching, and support with regard to organizing time and resources for homework; responding to work that is more challenging and requires more effort; understanding and addressing the varying expectations of teachers in different subject areas; and accomplishing such basic tasks as taking notes and taking tests (Elias, 2001). Unfortunately, this same sentiment resonates today with the New York City Public School system, specifically, middle schools located in low income areas. The New York City Public School System is struggling with mathematics achievement in the grades beyond elementary school. Over 30% of the city’s elementary and middle school students score at the lowest level of the state mathematics test and only 34% of all students pass that test. The mathematics â€Å"problem† seems connected to the third major trend in the data, the low performance of middle and junior high schools in the city. In both Mathematics and English Language Arts, the city’s middle and junior high schools seem to be the weakest link in the system (Domanico, 2002). Recently, the math state scores were released further underscoring the middle school â€Å"math problem† that exists. Results showed that while 75. 3% of students at the elementary level passed successfully only 38. 9% of grade eight students passed (Andreatta, 2006, 11). As such, the intent of this study, based on the aforementioned information, is to evaluate and make recommendations with regard to middle school students in a particular school who have been struggling with both subjects. This study will focus on a middle school, IS 166- George Gershwin School—located in East New York. The decision to choose IS 166 was dependent on a few factors among which included the fact that the district within which it is located is considered a â€Å"virtual educational dead zone† by a Civic Report drafted by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (Domanico, 2002). Additionally, after reviewing the New York City Department of Education’s website—which provides an overwhelming amount of information on every public school in the city as well as their progress over recent years in the core subjects—it was found that of the schools within the 19th School District—primarily East New York, IS 166 is one of the worst performing schools. The school’s poor academic performance is further exacerbated by the outstanding grades displayed by another school in the 19th School District such as IS 409—East New York Family Academy and outside of the district another school MS 114, located in District 2 (Manhattan), whose grades superseded the city’s level as well as the state’s level. The graphs below illustrate how IS 166 performed poorly in the last 2 years on the state Math and Science exams comparatively to other schools, specifically IS 409 in the same district as well other schools in other districts. The last two graphs will show the difference with a higher performing school such as IS 409 and therefore will confirm why this study is going to be conducted. IS 166- George Gershwin School Math and Science Grades Source: New York Department of Education (Division of Assessment and Accountability—School Report Cards 2005). Definition of the Levels on which the scores for both subjects are based: Level 4—These students exceed the standards and are moving toward high performance on the Regents examination. Level 3—These students meet the standards and, with continued steady growth, should pass the Regents examination. Level 2—These students need extra help to meet the standards and pass the Regents examination. Level 1—These students have serious academic deficiencies. Source: New York Department of Education (Division of Assessment and Accountability—School Report Cards 2005). The aforementioned graphs showed how poorly IS 166 has performed in the last two years in both Math and Science. In Math, the number of students performing at Levels 3 and 4 has decreased from 22. 2% in 2004 and 17. 5% in 2005. The number of students tested for Level 3 was only 60 and for Level 4 only 3 of 361 total students. The remaining students, as displayed on the right hand side of the graph, are still at a Level 1 which as noted by the above definition means that they are in grave need of assistance. Therefore, for the purposes of the study, the target population will be defined as â€Å"in need† students. Although there has been a slight increase in Science, the results are still less than desirable when compared with other schools in the district and the City. As seen in the graph, only 14% of the students passed at Levels 3 and 4 in 2004 and by 2005, only 18% were able to pass at the same levels. Therefore, if IS 166 continues on this trajectory, it will continue to be labeled an underperforming school that graduates below average students incapable of performing the basic tasks in both subjects. The goal of the evaluation study is to thoroughly review the problems that exist and hopefully get the school to achieve grades similar to IS 409-East New York Family Academy sometime in the near future as is reflected in the following graphs. IS 409- East New York Family Academy Math and Science Grades Source: New York Department of Education (Division of Assessment and Accountability—School Report Cards 2005). As noted in the above graphs, IS 409 is performing extremely well at Levels 3 and 4 and has outperformed schools in both math and science in the district (which is truly exceptional given the neighborhood and its history) as well as other City schools. Very few students if any are far below the standard in both subjects. Moreover, as noted before, other schools such as MS 114 and IS 289 located in District 2 have maintained exceptional scores over the two year period. For 2004 and 2005, MS 114 scored 88% and 81% consecutively in Math and 97% and 91% in Science. IS 289 also scored high grades-for both years in Math, the school displayed 83% and 73% when compared to other schools in the district and city and in Science, they scored 87% and 82%. Other schools in other districts from Queens and Staten Island have also demonstrated solid scores. This makes designing a program even more of a priority in light of the above referenced comparisons. The study will not focus on the students at all levels in the middle schools but specifically, the eighth grade students destined for high school who have yet to grasp the necessary skills needed to succeed and have been the center of test score analysis over the years. These eighth grade students will be approximately 14 years old but depending on factors such as repeating a grade or special needs, the age may vary from 14-16 years old. As noted before, they will be identified as â€Å"in need† students and the study will attempt to identify the worst performing students by looking not only at grades but possibly contributing factors such as income, special needs, and possible crime involvement. The improvement of Math and Science scores is a gargantuan task which requires a major overall of the school at all levels, however, to begin the following services are needed and they are but not limited to: ?Offering training sessions for the math and science teachers. The difference between not only IS 409 and other schools in District 2 is that the teachers have more experience, education, and are less likely to be absent more than average. The training sessions will be implemented on weekends or after-school whichever is more convenient for the teachers and will be done prior to establishing an after-school program for the students. The training sessions will allow teachers from higher performing schools an opportunity to impart their techniques for achieving higher grades. ?Offering a separate informative session for the Principal, Maria Ortega, so that she is more knowledgeable on what is needed to succeed in both areas. In most cases, the principal of a school has a general idea of what is needed in most subject areas, however, if the principal is more involved, informed, and fully comprehends the nuances of the subject matter, then she will be able to make better choices in hiring and understanding the teaching of the curriculum. This is an idea which originated out of reading the case of MS 114 in District 2 which showcases a principal that has not only taught but has written Math books for children. Also, in IS 289, the principal knows each student individually and is fully acquainted with their needs. ?Offering additional services for children that may range from an after-school program to extending class hours to offering classes on the weekend. One of the schools in District 2 actually has classes that last at least 50 minutes giving students a better opportunity to absorb the material thereby performing better in exams. ?Offering programs that will incorporate the parents as well. Perhaps this will be in conjunction with the after-school program. As noted, most of the students in this district are from low income families and perhaps some of the parents are in low paying jobs or living on welfare. The parents can take advantage of the program by refreshing themselves with the basic concepts of each subject so that they may assist their children and perhaps help themselves. PROGRAM THEORY In order to address the dire academic situation at IS 166-George Gershwin School, and before implementing an after-school program, it is important to address the issue at the higher levels which means analyzing teaching techniques and more importantly, principal participation. At the Center for Civic Innovation Luncheon featuring Chancellor Joel Klein held on Thursday, October 5th at the Harvard Club, Chancellor Klein began his speech with an analogy of the leaky roof and the squeaky floor. He stated that there was a school located in uptown Harlem that had a leaky roof and a squeaky floor. One day a repair man came to repair the floor and the custodian stated that the floor cannot be fixed prior to the roof being fixed to which the repairman replied â€Å"That’s not my concern, I am just here for the floor†. The Chancellor began his speech with that story to underscore the problems with the NYC Education system. He believes that everyone wants to fix the underlying problems without addressing the issues at the surface. The Chancellor’s story may be applied to the case of IS 166 and any other school in need of improvement. Many observers and parents are often led to believe that their children are primarily the problem in achieving higher scores and possibly that their children lack the intellect to truly analyze or process the information given to them. However, it is just as important for the heads of the respective schools to be cognizant of what is needed to improve these scores and the principal is just the person to ensure this. Therefore, before implementing a program, we have recommended that Principal Maria Ortega participate in a briefing session lasting approximately one month in the summer—right after the end of the school year and before the hiring season begins—for at least 4 hours a day, three days a week. According to reports of comprehensive school reforms in Chicago and Louisiana, the schools’ academic success was primarily attributed to the principals in charge and the contributions they made throughout the reforms. In one report, it stated that â€Å"highly effective schools communicated expectations for teachers. The principal was active in working to improve teacher skills; ineffective teachers were let go. † Moreover, the principals played an important role in four areas a) selection and replacement of teachers; b) classroom monitoring and feedback; c) support for improvement of individual teachers; and d) allocating and protecting academic time (Good et al, 2005, 2207). Therefore, implementing a program or briefing session solely for Principal Ortega would help her improve in all these areas. Principals, under Chancellor Klein’s tenure, have been given more empowerment opportunities and have more responsibilities to ensure the success of their schools. IS 166 has been categorized as a Title I School In Need of Improvement (SINI) under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and as such, Principal Ortega has to work harder than ever to improve the english, math, and science scores—subjects that are integral to a student’s academic success. The program we have suggested will illustrate to Principal Ortega that math, in particular, cannot be taught in the traditional manner, that is, using rote. In fact, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) advocates the development of an inquiry-based mathematics tradition. Students taught using this tradition are encouraged to explore, develop conjectures, prove, and problem solve (Manswell Butty, 2001, 20). Students are best able to absorb the material in not only math and science but other subjects if the teachers are able to present it in an interesting manner that entails connections to the outside world. Principal Ortega should also be familiarized with the requirements for the exams and then know exactly how the staff should approach student preparation. She should also ensure that with respect to math, she adheres to the recommendations Lyle V. Jones reiterated in his article entitled â€Å"Achievement Trends in Math and Science† in which it was stated: ? Only teachers who like mathematics should teach mathematics ? The chief objective of school mathematics should be to instill confidence ? Mathematics teaching must be based on both contemporary mathematics and modern pedagogy (Jones, 1988, 333). After completion of this program, and hopefully with a better understanding of what is needed to improve the scores at IS 166, the next step would be to address the teaching staff. As noted, the methodology used is integral to ensuring that the students comprehend, absorb, and analyze the information being disseminated. If they fail to process the information then they will ultimately perform poorly in the state exams and possibly continue to do so throughout high school. We recommend prior to the beginning of the academic year, and the implementation of the after-school program, that teachers, specifically, the math teachers enroll in a summer institute similar to one reported in an article entitled, â€Å"Toward a Constructivist Perspective: The Impact of a Math Teacher InService Program on Students†. The reason being is that the teaching of math more so than science requires certain techniques that are far from the traditional methods that most teachers employ. The summer institute in the report offered participating teachers intensive two-week summer institutes and weekly classroom follow-up during one academic year. Moreover, they received an opportunity to reexamine their ideas about the teaching and learning of mathematics. During the summer institutes, these teachers experienced mathematics classes in which they were encouraged to construct solutions and ideas and to communicate them to a group. They analyzed student understandings as revealed in interviews and they planned lessons which reflected their evolving ideas about mathematics learning and teaching (Simon and Schifter, 1993, 331). Teachers need to plan their lessons in such a manner as to engage the students so that they may effectively communicate their thoughts or problems with a particular issue. In fact, after completion of the summer institute, and after the teachers began using their newfound techniques, the results were noteworthy and ranged from students stating that â€Å"it’s fun to work math problems† to â€Å"I’d rather do math than any other kind of homework† to â€Å"I like to explain how I solved a problem†(Simon and Schifter, 1993, 333). Therefore, using the above referenced example, the summer institute that we propose for the math teachers will last approximately three weeks in the summer and it would begin approximately mid-August prior to the beginning of the academic year. This program would be mandated by the principal and would include veteran staff members as well new ones brought on board. Another factor that teachers have to take into consideration is the population they cater to during the academic year. IS 166 consists of predominantly black and Hispanic students residing in East New York and its surrounding environs, thereby, making them not only an â€Å"in need† group in terms of grades but an â€Å"at risk† group in terms of their backgrounds and predisposition to engage in illicit activities. Many believe teaching techniques are generic and if they are employed in one school then they may be applicable in another. However, studies have shown that minority children in low income neighborhoods require a different set of techniques employed. According to Manswell Butty, African-American children have further been identified as favoring four learning styles a) person-centered, b) affective, c) expressive, and movement oriented (Butty, 2001, 23). Therefore, teachers need to use laboratory or group exercises, discussion sessions, or instructional uses of music and the visual and dramatic arts, especially when those pedagogical techniques promote Black students’ greater academic involvement, interest, and performances (Butty, 2001, 23). However, this is not a generalization implying that all minority children respond to this technique but most will probably respond positively. Therefore, teachers must be made aware of the group of children that they are dealing with and ensure that they employ the above referenced techniques to garner success. In fact, there are Learning through Teaching in an After-School Pedagogical Laboratories (L-TAPL) in California and New Jersey, which not only offer a program for elementary students but also serves as a practice-rich professional development for urban teachers. The program aims to improve the achievement of urban students and the competence of their teachers (Foster et al, 2005, 28). According to the Foster article, numerous studies, policies, and programs have addressed the persistent problem of underachievement among poor urban students and its array of possible causes. The NCLB links teacher quality to improved student achievement, especially among low-income urban children of color. Consequently, improving teacher quality has become one of the hallmarks of current reform efforts (Foster et al, 2005, 28). These laboratories groom future urban teachers to deal with students similar to the target population at IS 166. And as such, as an alternative to our summer institute, the teachers are free to enroll in the program offered by this lab in New Jersey. Therefore, taking into account the above referenced studies, improving teacher quality is of utmost importance when taking into consideration the improvement of math and science scores. All of the above has brought us to the most important element of the study establishing an after-school program. Establishing an After-school Program-Resources Funding Under the NCLB Act, Title I schools, such as IS 166 that are listed as Schools In Need of Improvement, have failed to reach student achievement targets that have been set for every school. This means the school has failed to meet state proficiency level for all students in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and/or high schools graduation rate. Schools falling in the above referenced category may be eligible for Supplemental Educational Services (SES). SES include free after-school/weekend remedial help or tutoring services. The SES provision offers providers an opportunity to offer low-income children, who may be struggling in school, extra academic help and individual instruction. Through SES, innovative leaders and educators can start a new tutoring program or expand an existing one to serve more students (New York City Department of Education). However, instead of using an SES provider—which in some cases the DOE will offer contracts of over a million dollars to provide services to various schools—we will request additional funding that would have been used to acquire an SES provider to establish the after-school program by ourselves with the assistance of The After-school Corporation (TASC). TASC is renowned for establishing successful after-school programs and have no contract with the DOE and thus, are not labeled SES Providers. In addition to wanting to establish a program using solely school staff, it is important to note, that there have been several complaints about SES providers and most are being investigated either by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District or the Office of Special Investigation and in the best interest of the target population, we have decided to forego those providers. Therefore, the funding used from SES will be used to offer per session rates for the teachers participating in the program as well as pay for the consultant from TASC. The funding will also be used to acquire additional supplies such as the KidzMath program which is highly popular and is used around the country to get students interested in math and to improve scores. Funding will also be used to secure additional bus transportation from the Office of Pupil Transportation as well as food and refreshments for the children. Staffing and Facilities The program will be housed in the school recreation room and so there will be no need to rent a facility to do so. The program will be supervised by the TASC consultant who will preferably be someone from the community who is familiar with the target population and can easily relate to their situation. The principal and assistant principal will take turns observing the classes and ensuring that the teachers and participants are abiding by the rules. The teachers will be eighth grade math and science teachers who deal with the target population on a daily basis and who are familiar with the problems they are experiencing. Additionally, the teachers will be assisted by high school students who are well versed in the subject areas, who have been recruited from neighboring high schools and would like to add an after-school tutoring activity to their resume. Therefore, these students will not be paid but will use the after-school program as a learning experience. Participants The students participating in the program will be chosen based on their past academic performance in grades six and seven and failure to show any signs of improvement. To reiterate, this program is geared specifically for eighth grade students, ages 14-16 years old, and will begin a month into the beginning of the academic year towards the end of September early October after the students and teachers have settled in the new semester. Letters will be sent to the parents at the beginning of the academic year notifying them of their child’s progress and advising them that the program is mandatory if they are to improve and move on to high school (the letters will be followed up by phone calls). While the school has no recourse if a student fails to attend even though it has been marked mandatory, offering a voluntary program usually encourages those that are really not in need of it to participate and those that do need it usually don’t. The parents will be informed of the structure of the program and the fact that transportation will be provided so that their children will be taken home safely after the program. In fact, parents who may not be working full time or at all will be encouraged to observe or participate in another session that will help them to understand what their child needs to improve. The session, which will last as long as the tutoring session, will more than likely be conducted by the assistant principal or a math/science staff member and will give the parent an opportunity to be truly acquainted with the activities being conducted. This program may also be helpful to them as well as some of these parents lack the basic educational skills that are necessary to obtain a job. Activities and Schedule Based on successful programs in Arkansas, the after-school program we will establish will mirror these successful programs and therefore, the program will entail classes of one and a half hours each day, Monday through Thursday between the hours of 3pm and 4:30pm. Mondays and Wednesdays will be dedicated to math and Tuesdays and Thursdays will be dedicated to science. The sessions will be divided into 40 minute periods during which the first period will be dedicated to the teacher illustrating the subject material and the second period will be dedicated to the students participating in groups and working together to complete the work presented in the first period. The students will get a ten-minute break during which they will receive refreshments. In the Camden School District in Arkansas, school officials credited the success of the after-school programs to the schools being released from the â€Å"Adequate Yearly Progress† (AYP) status under the NCLB Act (Arkansas Advocates for Children Families, 2006). Throughout the course of the program, teachers will be encouraged not to utilize the same material or techniques used on a daily basis. The teachers will be reminded that the program is geared towards individuals who have a negative attitude toward the subjects which may be as a result of not only failure to comprehend the material but also the teacher’s emphasis on traditional methods. Therefore, the program will forego any emphasis on memorization, computation, and equation and will focus on modeling and real world problem solving. Engaging in group work, especially in math, has proven to be successful and will be the focus of the program. According to Jones, group work differs from cooperative learning in its lesser emphasis on the teacher as instructor and its greater dependence on students teaching other students. Moreover, cooperative learning procedures as dependent first on instruction by the teacher, then on practice engaged in actively by members of an established student team (often of four team members), has evidence that supports the efficacy of the approach to elevate not only achievement but also self-esteem, interpersonal effectiveness and interracial harmony (Jones, 1988, 328). Therefore, the students will work together in groups over the period of the academic year and will be exposed to hands-on experiences, games, and projects. KidzMath should really be a good stimulant and with the assistance of the teachers, the students should be motivated. Teachers will also be encouraged to maintain a weekly progress report which will ultimately be used to assess the program’s progress. Another aspect of the program would entail having the Principal establishing stronger ties with the community and getting more community leaders involved by dropping by the after-school program to give advice and encouragement to the students. Students are not only stimulated by various activities that are outside of the norm of the regular classroom but are also stimulated by role models or individuals they deem to be successful from their part of the neighborhood. According to a report done on the Chicago School Reform, the schools that experienced major changes and improvements were led by principals who were strong veteran leaders with good relationships with their local school councils and the community (Hess, Jr. , 1999, 79). Additionally, incentives can also be offered for the students in the program which will encourage their continued participation and potential success and can range from visits to museums or amusement parks if they have showed slight improvements. While these children who performed poorly are from low income families, and a reduction in poverty rates might have a salutary effect on measured school achievement, according to Lyle V. Jones, the influence of poverty on educational achievement may be ameliorated by introducing school-parent programs to improve academic conditions in the home. After reviewing nearly 3,000 investigations of productive factors in learning concludes that such programs have an outstanding record of success in promoting achievement (Jones, 1988, 327). Explanation of Logic Model. Inputs: consist of the fundamental resources—human and capital—that the program needs in order for it to achieve its goals. These resources consist of funding for per session rates for the teachers, payment for the TASC Consultant, supplies such as KidzMath, transportation, and refreshments. The most important resources needed are the children to whom the program is directed. Activities: Once the fundamental resources are in place, the schedule has been established and the techniques for teaching have been agreed upon, then the after-school program will proceed as planned throughout the academic year. The sessions will be conducted four days a week, Mondays and Wednesdays, for math and Tuesdays and Thursdays for science lasting 1. 5 hrs each period. The sessions will entail a great deal of group work and collaboration along with potential visits from community leaders and role models. Outputs: Upon implementation of the program, it is important to ascertain if the program is reaching its target population, if the services provided are being done in the manner discussed and if the population are benefiting or if they have any concerns those will be noted throughout the assessment. This will be done by conducting site visits, performing observations and conducting surveys. Outcomes: If the program is successful in achieving its goals, then the immediate goals will see the students passing their in-class tests and ultimately the state exams—which has been the focal issue with the school and the reason for the Title I status under the NCLB Act. The long-term goals include the participants of the program actually going on to high school and possibly even college. From that point onward, if students succeed in college, they may even pursue challenging careers thereby improving their socio-economic status. The reason the logic diagram is done in a cyclical manner is to demonstrate that if the program is successful and the students do improve significantly, then the school may be eligible for the same amount or a higher amount of funding which they can use to increase their resources for the input phase for the upcoming academic year. PROGRAM PROCESS Once the program has been implemented, it is important to ascertain if the services are in fact being delivered as planned and if the participants are learning with the teachers employing the new techniques as discussed. In order to do this, we will conduct an observational study as fashioned from the TASC’s site visit procedures in addition to teacher and parental surveys to see if they have noted any differences in the children participating in the program. This assessment will be done halfway throughout the semester at approximately the end of January which will also coincide with the first set of state exams (students also take these exams towards the end of the academic year-approximately June). The assessment will begin with a two-person team (my colleague and I) visiting the after-school’s program for two days a week, for a total of two weeks—one day for math and the other for science. The visit will include an interview with the principal and assistant principal (who, as noted before, would have taken turns monitoring the program).

William Shakespeare Sonnet

William Shakespeare Sonnet Comparisons between Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smiths 10 Things I Hate About You and William Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew and references to William Shakespeares â€Å"Sonnet 141† Numerous different people have adapted or remade William Shakespeares work The Taming of the Shrew since he wrote it. One of those adaptations is Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smiths 10 Things I Hate About You and has many direct and indirect references to Shakespeares The Taming†¦. First off, the similarity in the naming of the primary characters, the two sisters in The Taming†¦ are named Katherina and Bianca, in 10 Things†¦ Katarina and Bianca. In 10 Things†¦ the girls last name is Stratford undoubtedly a reference to Stratford-Upon-Avon where Shakespeare was born. Petruchio of Verona in The Taming†¦ closely resembles Patrick Verona of 10 Things†¦ The story lines mirror each other closely. Shakespeares Lucentio wants to marry Bianca but is unable to until her older sister is first wed. In 10 Things†¦ Joey is in the same situation wanting to date Bianca but she is unable to until her older sister starts dating. In both works, Petruchio and Patrick are relatively unknowns from out of town. In The Taming†¦ Hortensio has disguised himself as a music teacher, so that he can spend time with Bianca and woo her secretly. Looking at 10 Things†¦ Cameron becomes a French tutor to Bianca because he wants to be around Bianca and hopes to woo her as well. There are other points in 10 Things†¦ that reference Shakespeare, in Wikipedia it is noted that; At several points the characters also either directly quote Shakespeare or allude to his style of writing in their own speech, typically for comedic value. For example, upon seeing Bianca for the first time, Cameron declares, â€Å"I burn, I pine, I perish!† (10 things) Which is a direct quote from The Taming†¦ that Lucento says in Act I scene i. Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, If I achieve not this young modest girl. Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst: Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt (The Taming). What Lucento is saying is that he wants to wed Bianca and he is asking Tranio, his servant, how he can achieve this. Continuing from Wikipedia, â€Å"Also, when Michael pulls out on his motorbike in front of [Katarina] and she apprehends him, he calls her the shrew.† (10 things) I found this to be very interesting as many modern students have a very hard time relating to Shakespeare. This was a very bold move by Lutz and Smith and in 10 Things†¦ they really pulled it off well in that I did not even notice it the first few times that I watched it. Once I did notice this, I felt that the bringing the classics to the modern screen enhanced this movie even more. Katharina has the homework assignment to write her own version of Shakespeares â€Å"Sonnet 141†. Her poem â€Å"10 things I hate about you† obviously becomes the title of the movie. The first two lines of â€Å"Sonnet 141† read, â€Å"In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes, For they in thee a thousand errors note;† (Sonnet) What it seems that Shakespeare is saying I love you but not for your physical beauty in Katharinas version she states, â€Å"I hate the way you talk to me, and the way you cut your hair† (10 things). Not an exact match but her poem reflects what Shakespeare was conveying in â€Å"Sonnet 141† which I see as, you are not perfect but I love you in so many ways nonetheless. This can also be seen in next two lines of â€Å"Sonnet 141† â€Å"But tis my heart that loves what they despise,Who, in despite of view, is pleasd to dote.† (Sonnet) Which say that no matter what some see I will dote on you because my heart loves what others may not like. The rest of â€Å"Sonnet 141† is much the same just stated much more eloquently by Shakespeare. The last line of Katharinas version is,â€Å"But mostly I hate the way I dont hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all† (10 Things) This is in essence exactly what Shakespeare says in â€Å"Sonnet 141† just taking the reverse, he loves her yet he cannot say why and Kat says I should hate you but I do not. There are other correlations between 10 Things I Hate About You and The Taming of the Shrew beyond what I have shown here. I believe that this was an excellent modernizing of a truly great work of Shakespeares. 10 Things†¦ uses a classic story bringing it to a new generation even if they do not realize it. Most will agree that the movie was purely for entertainment but who knows they may have learned something along the way. Work Cited 10 Things I Hate About You. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 Mar 2007, 18:30 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 4 Mar 2007. d=112609421>. Sonnet 141. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 19 Jan 2007, 01:35 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 5 Mar 2007. . The Taming of the Shrew. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Mar 2007, 19:02 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 4 Mar 2007. 12378181>. I have included both Kats poem from 10 Things†¦ and â€Å"Sonnet 141† Kats 10 Things I Hate About You I hate the way you talk to me, and the way you cut your hair. I hate the way you drive my car. I hate it when you stare. I hate your big dumb combat boots, and the way you read my mind. I hate you so much it makes me sick; it even makes me rhyme. I hate the way youre always right. I hate it when you lie. I hate it when you make me laugh, even worse when you make me cry. I hate it when youre not around, and the fact that you didnt call. But mostly I hate the way I dont hate you. Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all. Sonnet 141 by William Shakespeare In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes, For they in thee a thousand errors note; But tis my heart that loves what they despise, Who, in despite of view, is pleasd to dote. Nor are mine ears with thy tongues tune delighted; Nor tender feeling, to base touches prone. Nor taste nor smell desire to be invited To any sensual feast with thee alone: But my five wits nor my five senses can Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee, Who leaves unswayd the likeness of a man, Thy proud hearts slave and vassal wretch to be: Only my plague thus far I count my gain, That she that makes me sin awards me pain

Analysis of Fable by Nina Cassian :: Cassian Fable Essays

Analysis of Fable by Nina Cassian Whereas the extent of my poetic appreciation lies in a decided distaste for Dante and a zest for limericks concerning Nantucket - it behooves me to discuss a poem that my limited capacities can grasp. Fable by Nina Cassian is just such a poem. I view this piece as Ms. Cassian's perspective on life (a "sentence" or an obligation), death, and sadly, the fact that most people do not appreciate the beautific nature of existence. I understand the first stanza as a depiction of man's earthly plane as a sort of testing ground for "angels" - a place where beings are concerned with the development of spirit, "to master imbalance." The second and third stanzas I interpret as the transformation of the ethereal spirit to a corporeal state. The "angel plummeted" and thus left spiritual beauty in a quest for purity. The angel,s descent is clearly painful: "...feathers carbonized, his sole wing impotent, dangling." Though the cost of corporeal existence is dear, I believe Ms. Cassian sees this as an obligation which must be met, a "sentence." The final sentence is the saddest. The nature of this newly formed being is mundanely categorized. The "people" fail to see its purpose and its intrinsic beauty; by extension, they have lost their own missions, their own true value. They have forgotten God. The second poem was written by an astonishingly brillant N.Y.U. student hoping to receive an "A" in an introductory literature course taught by a fascinating (and underpaid) professsor. 12/2/97 is the date that this author spent approximately six minutes dead. He had minored in theology and had developed a healthy scepticism concerning all religions. The author had laughed at so called "near-death experiences -" believing them either fantasy or resultant of a chemical secretion of the frontal lobe in times of catastrophic distress. This erstwhile pillager of the business world, this glorified "strett hustler" discovered upon his demise that as the "people" of Fable he had lost his way, his appreciation, his God.

Biography of Andrew Warhol Essay -- Papers

Biography of Andrew Warhol Born Andrew Warhol on August 6, 1928 (some sources say 1927), in Forest City, Pennsylvania, the son of a construction worker and miner from Czechoslovakia. He attended the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh from 1945-1949, receiving a bachelor of fine arts degree in pictorial design. Warhol liked to shroud himself in mystery. "I never give my background, and anyway, I make it all up differently every time I'm asked," he said. His exact birth date and place only add to this mystery. Warhol provided no information on the matter, so any definitive statement is subject to question. In 1949 Warhol arrived in New York City, where he made a meager living in advertising display work. He took some of his drawings to Glamour magazine and received a commission to make drawings of shoes. These were published and admired; he then worked for a shoe chain. In 1957 a shoe advertisement brought him the Art Directors' Club Medal. His work appeared in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar magazines, and in 1959 he exhibited his gold shoe drawings in a New York City gallery. In 1960 Warhol began painting pictures with no commercial market in mind. He did a series on comic strips such as Dick Tracy, Popeye, Superman and the Little King. His paintings of Coca Cola bottles and Campbell soup cans, arranged in seemingly endless rows, were ridiculed when they were first shown. He created paintings of money and ... ...ed subjects with great popular imagery and treated the symbol and image as much as he does the real object itself. As a social commentator (a role he denied), Warhol had the uncanny ability to mirror the trends and fads of his time. Recognizing the elements of an urban mass society heavily influenced by symbols, images, and the mass media, he made those symbols and images the subjects of his art. For Warhol and other Pop artists, these images have taken on a reality of their own. They were not only shaped by but also reshaped popular culture. Warhol left social and cultural historians visual documents of the significant elements from America's consumerist society of the postwar era--an important legacy. Warhol died of heart failure hours after under going gall bladder surgery on February 22, 1987, in New York City.

Essay on The Awakening -- Chopin Awakening Essays

Critical Views of The Awakening      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Awakening, written by Kate Chopin, is full of ideas and understanding about human nature. In Chopin's time, writing a story with such great attention to sensual details in both men and women caused skepticism among readers and critics. However, many critics have different views with deeper thought given to The Awakening. Symbolism, the interpretation of Edna's suicide, and awakenings play important roles in the analysis of all critics.    Symbolism in The Awakening is interpreted in many ways. It is important to understand the meaning of each explanation of symbolism given by every critic to fully appreciate the novel. Art, for example, becomes a symbol of both freedom and failure(Wyatt). It is through the process of trying to become an artist that Edna reaches the highest point of her awakening(Wyatt). Clothes are also significant in discovering symbolism. When Edna is first introduced she is fully dressed. Gradually, she disrobes until finally she goes into the water to die, completely naked. Her undressing symbolizes the shedding of societal rules in her life, her growing awakening, and it stresses her physical and external self(Wyatt). Two modern critics, Neal Wyatt and Harold Bloom, agree that Edna is symbolized for her "quest for self-discovery or self-hood." Edna feels caged, which makes her quest very difficult. The use of birds in the story helps the reader understand Edna's feeling of entrapment and the inab ility to communicate(Wyatt). Much like the shedding of clothes, birds symbolize freedom and escape from being caged. The ability to spread your wings and fly is a symbolic theme that occurs often in the novel(Wyatt).    Many readers do not like the ending... ...r that many people of her time found unladylike or even perverted. However, as time has passed and readers as well as critics find it easier to talk about sensual emotions, Chopin is now known as one of the most respected and brilliant writers that ever lived. Women had the feelings she wrote about and life was as discriminating as she described it, but only Kate Chopin had the courage to tell about it. Critics have given deep thought to The Awakening and with each analysis one reads, comes a new and unique awakening.    Works Cited Gilbert, Sandra J.   "The Novel of the Awakening."   Bloom, Harold, ed. Modern Critical Views: The Awakening, Kate Chopin Rosowski, Sandra M. "The Second Coming of Aphrodite."   Bloom, Harold, ed. Modern Critical Views:   Kate Chopin; Chelsea House :   New York,   1987. Wyatt, Neal. "Suicide". http.//www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng384

Health and Social Care Act Essay

Legislation: Health and Social Care Act; the Medicines Act and The Misuse of Drugs Act. Guidelines could include the Nursing Midwifery Guidelines for the management of medicine administration – registered nurses have to abide by this set of guidelines and for paid carers, the General Social Care Council’s Code of Conduct will have something which could relate to medication. Policy – for example – consider the Government’s drive to ensure people with dementia are not over medicated – so their policy is currently designed to ‘push’ the professionals responsible for prescribing to bear in mind the effect of drugs on frail elderly people and to consider alternative treatments such as activities and therapies. Other examples of policy might be the Government’s drive to limit the prescribing of antibiotics to reduce the incidence of resistant strains of bacteria. Protocols – a protocol is a procedure and you could outline your company’s procedure (protocol) for disposing of controlled drugs or medication in general. 2- Know about common types of medication and their use. Antibiotics- The most common side effects of antibiotics affect the digestive system. These occur in around 1 in 10 people. Side effects of antibiotics that affect the digestive system include: being sick feeling sick diarrhea bloating and indigestion abdominal pain loss of appetite Ibuprofen- Ibuprofen can cause a number of side effects. For this reason, take lowest possible dose of ibuprofen for the shortest possible time needed to control your symptoms. Common side effects of ibuprofen include: nausea (feeling sick) vomiting (being sick) diarrhoea (passing loose, watery stools) indigestion (dyspepsia) abdominal (tummy) pain Antihistamine- Common side effects of first-generation antihistamines include: drowsiness impaired thinking dry mouth dizziness constipation blurred vision an inability to fully empty the bladder (urinary retention) Drugs like insulin (blood has to be taken from a pinprick so that glucose can be measured before the insulin can be given); warfarin to thin the blood – again blood levels must be checked regularly; digoxin to slow and steady the heart (pulse should be checked prior to administration and advice taken if the pulse dips below 60 beats per minute) Common adverse reactions might be diarrhoea (some antibiotics for example); skin rashes; nausea – through to serious adverse reactions such as anaphylactic shock (facial swelling, blistering of the skin, wheezing and hives) leading to total system collapse and (if not treated with adrenalin) death. The different routes of medication administration are orally, injection/intravenous, creams, and liquids. 3- Understand procedure and techniques for the administration of medication. The required information from prescriptions and medication administration charts are medication name, the name of the person the mediation is prescribed f or, dosage, frequency/PRN and medication strength. 4- Prepare for the administration of medication. Standard precautions for infection control would be hand washing, ppe for  example gloves and aprons etc. In a structured health care setting, medication would be administered to the patient or resident or client by a nurse, such as an RN or LPN – whoever was assigned to be the med nurse. In other facilities, medication is administered by persons with med cert’s (certification training to administer meds). It’s a very specific, precise duty. Meds are secured in locked rooms, areas, and carts. No one is allowed access except the med nurse or scheduled med cert. (person). Meds have to be administered in the correct dosage, which can only be according to a doctor’s prescription. Dosage cannot be altered unless a doctor alters or updates the Rx. The person administering the meds must observe the person they administer them to and ensure that they took them. Pocketing meds (in the cheek), or refusing meds are handled according to the person’s meds and orders. Sometimes it is marked as declined / refused meds. Sometimes, it is documented that they did not swa llow it initially and had to be encouraged, etc. or whatever happened according to the facilities guidelines. Meds are always, and must be, administered and documented accurately when they are administered (contemporaneously). Meds are prescribed to be given sometimes at certain intervals. If the med is a few minutes late, no one is to assume that it was already administered, and skip it. Likewise, if it is offered a little early and that is appropriate according to the order, the med, or the patient request, etc. and it is not documented correctly and contemporaneously, and a second dose is administered, assuming it is on time, and assuming falsely that it was not recently administered (upon request or whatever the circumstances were), then the patient would have been given an incorrect dosage, more than they were prescribed. You know that with some meds, that could be very a very serious overdose, sometimes terminal. They do try to put many checks and balances in place to prevent as much human error as possible, but it can happen. The consequences are usually pretty severe. A med cert would automatically lose their med certification, and they would be disciplined up to, and including, termination. With a licensed nurse, I’m not as sure of the procedure, but I’m fairly certain it would definitely include reporting the med error or  abuse, suspension without pay, an internal (or perhaps external) investigation, and disciplinary actions up to and including termination. Also, unauthorized access and theft of prescription medications – whether by the assigned med nurse, or an outside party, would automatically involve criminal charges. And of course, criminal charges are always a possibility in the other two scenarios I presented above for med certs and nurses, depending on the laws, the circumstances, and the outcome of the investigations. Like I said, very serious consequences. And it’s not like someone could just take a med and it could go unnoticed. med admin documentation is reviewed / audited at least daily, if not more often, and if someone was suspected of confiscating meds, such as narcotics, the building, in some agencies would go into lock-d own and staff could / would be subjected to a search.

Criminal Justice Trends

Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation A number of past, present, and future trends exist in regard to the interface between components of the criminal justice system and criminal justice connections with surrounding society. Conducting an analysis of each of these trends provides an understanding of the value of the criminal justice system and also how it adapts to an ever-changing society. Law enforcement agencies can make predictions for the future of the criminal justice system by placing an emphasis on the developments of the system over the past few decades. Past, Present, and Future TrendsIn the late twentieth century, a number of so called, â€Å"forgotten figures† struggled for an identity and also for equality. Women’s liberation movements began to portray the manner in which the criminal justice system viewed men who committed crimes to include sexual assault as punishments were minimal or at times perhaps even nonexistent for the crime. The media also rarely ack nowledged women who were victims of sexual assault, those of which also had to where to turn to for support or refuge. African Americans, gays, and also soldiers are others who struggled with finding an identity in society hence also within the criminal justice system.During the 1960s, victims’ rights movements began addressing those issued faced by these groups as the criminal justice system often overlooked the needs of each. Each group’s voice was believed not to be heard and at times each was also treated much differently than those who were not of minority by the system. Toward the end of the twentieth century the Victims’ Bill of Rights was passed in 22 states, allowing victims to have a voice hence express their view during courtroom proceeding, during sentencing, and also during parole.Other laws, acts, and policies were also implemented as a prohibition of unfair treatment for all members of society. The criminal justice system continues to expand polic ies and laws to protect society of individual rights and also from the law itself. Technological advances are other past, current, and future trends that should be taken into consideration as past technologies did not possess the capabilities the system has today. For example, the advancement of DNA testing has allowed for the conviction and also release of some individuals who may have been imprison for years and for crimes he or she did not commit.Technological advances have made it possible to convict many more individuals guilty of crimes than even in the past. The same technologies are also responsible for freely those who have been wrongly accused. Such advances have a direct impact on the manner in which the criminal justice system develops and also operates as courtroom judges may order a suspect to DNA testing; otherwise some states have the authority to do so. Years ago, the opportunity to provide such testing did not exist whatsoever which lead to the conviction of many i ndividuals who were in fact innocent of committing particular crimes.The criminal justice system today is an implementation of reappraisals of policies, procedures, and practices of prior decades. As society continues to expand its thinking and mentality concerning issues to include gays and women’s rights, the criminal justice must also in a sense expand its mentality and adjust to a changing society. For example, a decline of women within the criminal justice system may be because women now have the accessibility to similar programs men were entitled to, including educational programs, and also community-based programs. Criminal Justice Trends It is important for us to understand past, current, and future trends throughout the criminal justice system. Trends allow us to identify areas that need to be addressed so we may be equipped to handle them better. Society depends of the criminal justice system in many ways to offer them a sense of justice, safety, and peace of mind. Within this paper I will discuss past, current, and future trends and how it affects and changes our criminal justice system.I will also address recent and future trends and contemporary issues that affect the criminal justice system, as well as the values of the criminal justice system in a changing society. Past Trends Even though to most it may not seem like it, the criminal justice system has come a long way in its dealings with the public. In the past the criminal justice system was viewed as a faceless machine that acted independently of the areas it charged to look after.It seemed that it was better to stay detached from the public in order to rem ain biased in their judgment and to keep their professional appearance. By studying past trends we not only were able to see trends in criminal behavior as well as having the ability to try and create possible projections on why it could lead but, we were also able to view the interaction between the criminal justice system and those it served. Both the criminal justice system and the general public realized the need for cooperation between the two to better the results.Society has always and will always be changing and it is only through ongoing efforts and partnerships within the community that the criminal justice system can stay informed and better understand how to combat criminal trends. By understanding trends in the past and considering how certain criminal events began and where they are now, the criminal justice system has been able to gain a wealth of knowledge about illegal activity and how different attempts to control or stop the actions have worked or failed.By examin ing the patterns of criminal activity and looking at the response is to the different tactics used to prevent them the criminal justice system can actually derive betters means to control possible criminal growth or be better suited to handle the events as they arise. Current Trends There are many current trends that the criminal justice system faces as far as criminal activity is concerned. Increased violence and drug related offences are just two of the many obstacles that they face. Another trend that is developing is the public’s move towards privatized protection.There are a growing number of individuals and families that have begun seeking out more protection than what is offered by the local police department. Residents prefer to now have their own security in place something that is gear specifically towards them. I do not feel that this move comes from distrust in the criminal justice system to fulfill the task however, with the growing relationship being developed b etween communities and law enforcement now see what challenges the local law enforcement agencies have to overcome on a daily basis. With this in mind, the public has begun to move to the privet sector for personal and home security.Moving to gated communities in order to restrict traffic into their neighborhoods as well as neighbors coming together to employ security guards is a sure sign that the public sees that the growing challenges of law enforcement are causing them to strain their resources very thin in order to keep up with criminal activities over large areas. They also realize that regular patrols in their neighborhoods for long periods is something that many local law enforcement agencies can no longer provide so, many other areas have started working with the police departments to form neighborhood watches.This is a program that brings communities together with the common goal of protecting their neighborhood and their families. Home security systems, cameras and motion detecting lights around the home, fences, gated communities, privet security and patrols, neighborhood watches, and building community awareness along with the local law enforcement agencies have been beneficial to law enforcement in cutting down the amount of activity in small neighborhoods and communities allowing them to focus on other areas as well as having the advantage of having extra eyes and ears in several different areas.Future Trends As the growing demands of crimes continue to over burden law enforcement, we will continue to see the utilization of privet sector security by the public. Future trends can often be seen and planned for by following trends from the past and present. For example; (past drug trend) drugs are easy to manufacture and move making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to control. Current drug trend) drugs are still easy to manufacture and the demand has steadily increased making it very difficult for law enforcement agencies to control. (Poss ible predicted future trend? ) Drugs continue to grow presenting an ever growing and evasive element for law enforcement agencies to try and control. By following the trend we can see that drugs are going to continue to grow but, this shows us that it will take a continuing effort and therefore plans can be put into action now to aid in future the future growth. Criminal Justice Trends Criminal Justice Trends CJA/484 3/17/2013 David Sanders Jr The criminal justice system is always changing to help secure and protect society. Even though many times areas of law enforcement are over looked due to changes, the facts still remain that the number one priority of law enforcement is to see that the streets that we walk during the day and night are safe and secure even though one main ingredient has been lost with the progression of law enforcement.So in this paper I will focus on evaluate a few areas that have to deal with the past, present and future trends of law enforcement. I will also sum things up and discuss the budgetary and managerial impact that future trends will likely have on law enforcement, courts and corrections. Now when looking at the past efforts of law enforcement and the way that they went about doing their job it can be concluded that law enforcement were more engaged with the people in the community because they went about doing their job totally different then the way that it’s done in today’ s society.The reason why is because in the late 1800’s and beginning of the 1900’s many people felt safe in secure in their own homes because they knew that they were being protected and taking care of because law enforcement agents walked the streets and made their presence known. The community worrying about being violated was the least of their concerns because they knew that the law was on their side and watching everything that was going on.One way in particular that made the community feel safe had to do with the fact that that law enforcement agents would walk, stop, and talk to the people in the community and get to know them by name and take advantage of the conversation on how they could serve them better. Simply put the community knew the police and the police knew the community. So with that being said a relationship was able to be formed to make the community and the police one because each party wanted the same thing which was to see that justice is uphel d.Law enforcement also relied on the community to be its eyes and ears and help them to solve a crime that had taken place and which the community had no problem doing. However moving onto the present time of law enforcement and the birth of technology becoming more prominent the intimate care given towards the community started to go down to the point where the community no longer trust the police and the police no longer knew how to connect back to the community anymore.With that being said this brings us to the present trends of policing and the birth of technology and how law enforcement has lost its connection that it once had with the community. The birth of technology has helped law enforcement a great deal because it has help to speed up criminal proceedings and also has helped to eliminate wasted man hours to actually find the guy or woman that has committed the crime in question. However on the other hand the birth of technology has stripped away the very core that has mad e law enforcement trust worthy which was its ability to connect with the community.The reason why I say that the trust of law enforcement has been taking away is because there isn’t any more foot patrols done, Law enforcement agents are riding around in cars now neglecting the interaction with the community, but most importantly making the community believe that they really don’t care about them which makes the community not trust them or want to help them. However moving forward and to not bash the officers that have sworn to protect us they’re still some good that has come out with the birth of technology that has taking away the connection that law enforcement once had with the community.One example in particular is that of surveillance cameras that are now all over the place that helps aid law enforcement to be able to see faces of individuals that have committed a crime and gain leads as to who they’re looking for. Law enforcement have also gotten be tter at communicating with one another with the use of 2 way radios to ensure that criminals are apprehended quicker and with using qualitative research to get the right criminal the first time around.But with every positive there is a negative the same technology the law enforcement use to catch the criminals, the criminals are using that same technology to avoid being caught, which also goes back to the point that if law enforcement didn’t abandon the relationship that they once had with the community that the community would be willing to talk and help them out because with every crime committed there is always somebody watching. Moving forward when looking at the future trends of law enforcement it can be said that it’ll probably be better than present day law enforcement ecause they would be able to see what they did wrong and try to improve on it. The reason why is because with progression there is always improvements made on things that were done wrong. For inst ance law enforcement losing touch with the community in present day will be something that I believe would be primarily focus on to get back because stopping and preventing crime is a team effort and law enforcement cannot do it on its own. Even with all the technology in the world nothing can take the place of interaction and receiving information from someone that has actually saw the crime being committed.Surveillance tapes can catch the person in action but they do tend to miss the little details that can bring a criminal to justice much quicker then somebody seeing the crime taking place and reporting it. This is why I feel that for the future law enforcement would engage in getting back to its roots and trying to regain that trust that they one had from the community so that they can work hand and hand together to see that crime is cut down to a minimal or cut down for good.Finally the last point that I’ll like to discuss is the budgetary and managerial impact that futu re trends will most likely have on law enforcement, courts and corrections. This impact will most likely happen in the form of according to the National Center for State Courts the budget getting out of control and the government having to use its efforts to bail it out.The reason why is because with times changing law enforcement, courts and corrections are going to have to constantly stay ahead and have the technology that they need to keep the crime at its lowest and with that happening managing the funds will be hard to do. Crime is not going to stop because law enforcement does not have them money to keep up its going to actually get worse and thrive off of it In conclusion there are many ways to look at the change that has occurred when it comes to policing because in some areas it could be for good where and other areas it could be bad.The reason why is because the past, present and future trends of policing will and continue to be very different from one another. The reason why is because the days are long gone as to where police officers walked up and down community blocks talking to individuals and getting to know them, understand them and overall building their trust. To where know everything is fast paced and police officers are riding in cars and using radios and talking on phones due to the growth of technology.In it can even be said that with the growth of technology that it destroyed the police and community relationship. However with the future of things fast approaching it can also be said that with that relationship lost that it can be gained again because even though technology took it away technology can help make things right because with the growth of it crimes will be able to be solved much more quicker and give the police officer more time to make things right with the community that they had neglected.However one thing in particular that will never change and never go away is the value that police officers hold in the community and in society because without them there would be total madness because there would be no order and no one to enforce the laws to maintain such order that society needs to have to function. References 1. Cetron, Dr. M. J. & Davies, O. 2008) 55 Trends Now Shaping the Future Of Policing http://www. au. af. mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/proteus-55-policing. pdf 2. Craig D. Uchida (2004) The Development of American Police an Historical overview http://www. globalcitizen. net/data/pages/1418/papers/2009042815114290. pdf 3. 2012 National Center or State Courts http://www. ncsc. org/Topics/Financial/Budget-Management/Resource-Guide. aspx